Water closet



A. EK.

WATER CLOSET,

APPLICATION men MAYZI, 1917. RENEWED SEPT. 25, 1919.

lflwfiamm Patented Jan. 10, 1922.,

UNITED STATES PATIENT, OFFICE.

ms,- or PORTLAND; was;

warm smear;

application fll'cdfia'y a1; 1917; seriarno. 169,838;

h nchm n may concern:

Be it known that I, ARvIo EK, a citizen of. the United States, residin at Portland, in the county of Cumberl'an and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Water Closets, of which the'following is a specification.

My inve'nion relates to a water closet, having a low seat whereby the person using it will be obliged 'to assume a crouching posit'ion'.

It is a physiological fact that the natural position to assume in evacuating the rectum is a stooping or crouching position.

In this manner a mechanical pressure is put on the rectum and the lower colon, whereby the evacuation of the feces is aided and accelerated. This is the position of natureand my invention is directed to produce a water closet which will enable the user to" assume this natural position and thereby increase the expulsive forces of the colon thus preventing retention of fecal matter therein, as it is a known fact that persons using. this crouching or natural position' are lesstroubled with constipation than others using the high seat now in general use.

It is necessary to have a certain distance from the seat to the lower end of the trap in order to provide room for the trap, so that in order to make the seat a low one, with respect to the user, I form on the sides of the closet, a raised platform or foot rest. In this way plenty of room is given for the formation of a trap between the floor and the seat.

A low closet of this character with raised foot rests is much better applicable to a narrow closet adapted 'to be straddled and consequently, I form the closet proper relatively long and narrow with straight sides, the closet having the general form of a trough. The foot rest is preferably inclined forward, so as to counteract the tendency to cramp the foot or calf.

It is also intended that this type of closet shall be useful for children as well as adults. Physicians have long been aware that the use of the common hlgh seat closet is improper and iniurious for children.

My closet provides the same advantages and benefit for children as for grown-ups.

The end of the closet toward the trap where the, foot rest is higher from the floor and nearer the seat of the closet would naturally Specification-of Letters Patent. Pa,tnted Jan. 10, 13922., neiewed s'eptemuer' 25'; 1519. Serial 1%: seem:-

In the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated a closet constructed in accord-x ance with my invention:

-In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section taken in the center, a

Fig. 2 is a plan,

Fig. 3 is a cross-section'on the line ll of Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 is a cross section of a modified form of the device showing a narrow channel at the bottom.

Referring to the drawing, 2 is the closet proper, the closet being relatively long and narrow, so that it will pass easily between the legs. Its sides are substantially parallel but may be slightly inclined toward each other leaving a relatively narrow opening 3 between the sides.

The closet is formed with a trap in the usual manner, and it is so constructed that the user'is obliged to take a crouching position bv forming on each side a foot rest 4, which is raised some distance above the floor. This foot rest is preferably inclined in a forward direction, so as to overcome the tendenc of the foot or calf becoming crampe It also extends along the side of the closet preferably from a point in front to the rear end rising toward the rear end.

As here shown the closet and the foot rest are formed integral, the whole structure being made in one piece. The foot rest is made hollow and constitutesin efiect an elongated box for the support of the closet proper. The hollow foot rest is strengthened to support the weight of the closet by strengthening partitions, 5 extending across the stucture from side'to side and taking the form of an arch as shown in Fig. 3. 4

The closet and the platform or foot rest may, if desired, be of separate construction. I have provided holes 8, so that hinges may be affixed for top seat or cover, should either or both be wanted.

In Fig. 4, I show a form in which the edges are made comparatively fiat and wide, so that an easy, comfortable seating surface may be obtained. In Fig. 4, 6 represents the closet proper and 7 is the flat side.

I claim:

1. A water closet having an elongated narrow opening with substantially parallel sides, a forwardly sloing foot rest on each' side extending theentlre length of the openpjortion and the upper edge of the bowl por t1on and adapted to be engaged by a user ing whereby the hei 'ht of the seat above Straddling the bowl portion, said bowl por-' tion and supportmg means being elongated,

the foot rest is graduated to adapt it to hild e a d ad lts, and the supporting means bemg inclined to .2. A water closet of the character depermit the same to be engaged at difierent the bowl portion arranged between the base 1 scribed having a relatively elongated bowl pl a d h lo t be rresp nd ngly,-

the length used at different points while supporting the portion narrowed transversely, I

being such user in dlflzerent crouchmg pos1t1ons.-

and width of thebowl portion as; topermit users to straddle the same and use the bowlat substantially different points ribed having a relatively elongated bowl lengthwise of the bowl portion, in combinaport1on narrowed transversely, the length tion with means attached to the bowl for] and width of the bowl (portion being such as supportin the I user in crouching attitude-\ t0 permltusers to stra dle the same and use at said di erent points of use. 1 the bowl at substantially difl'erent points '3. A water closet of the character delengthwise of the bowl portion, and supportscribed having a relatively elongated bowl ing means for the user arranged with refportion narrowed transversely, the length erence to the upper edge of the bowl portion and width of the bowl ortion being such as A to vary at said different points to corre- -to permit users to stra dle the same and use pondingly support the user at difierent thebowl at d1fierent points lengthwise of pl es. the bowl portion, in 'combinationwith means -6. A for supporting the user in crouching attiscribed, having a relatively elongated-bowl tude at said diflerent, points of use, said portion, the length of the bowl portion being supporting means including foot rests at such as to permit usersto crouch above the the sides of the bowl portion adapted to be am at different points lengthwise of the engaged by the user at corresponding difierbowl portion, and supporting means at difent points, the foot rests being positioned in ferent elevations at the sides ada ted to'susa hlgher plane with reference to the floor m the user at corresponding y different level at one end of the bowl portion than at p ces. i a the other. In testimony whereof I hereby ailix my 4:. A water closet of the character designature. scribed having a base portion, a bowl portion, and supporting means at the sides of I ABVID EK.

5. A water closet of the character dewater closet of the character de- 

